Apparatus for scoring coated pipe



Nov. 16, 1943. w. R. POSTLEWAITE APPARATUS FOR SCORING COATED PIPE Filed May 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 16, 1943. w PQSTLEWAITE: 2,334,577

APPARATUS FOR SCORING COATED PIPE Filed May 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5 41 .4. 4,. y ATTORNEY Patented NOV. 16, 943

UNITE This invention relates to a method and apparatus for scoring the coated ends of successive longitudinally advancingpipe sections t on which has been applied a thick initially plastic coating,

which may contain a thermoplastic binder. and particularly re fers to a method and means ior producing circumferential. indentations in,. said coating at a spaced distance, from the abutting ends of the pipe sections so that the coating may be removed irom the endsof the pipe without loosening or damaging the main body of, the coating between said ends. I I J 1 Heretofore pipe sections which have beencoated by coupling-them successively and passing them through a, coating process which applies a thick layer of initially plastic material have been finished by-breaking or chippingthe coating for a short distance back'irom the ends so that the pipeends would be bare and in conditionto be welded or otherwise secured together topiorrn a long line. An improvement over thatprocedure is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 331,849,-filed April 26, 1940, which issued June 30, 1942, as Patent No. 2,-287,82'7.- I In the procedure there shown the, coupler was adapted to surround the abutting endsoi the pipes for a short distance and-therebyprevent the deposition of the coating material on the ends, This proved to be reasonably satisfactory but, particularly in the case oiylarge diameter pipe, the coating would act to bind or secure the coupling sections to the pipe ends so that when the couplers were removed, the coating itself would be cracked or loosened for adistance back wardly along the main body of the pipe section.

This invention comprehends broadlya method of trimming involving the steps of scor nscr forming circumferential indentations at predetermined distances from :the end facesoi the abutting pipe sections, followed by removal of the short length of coating so segregated from w n prevent I cac ks' rmmlitmvelung backwardly, along the main body of the coating' on the pipe.

Itwill be understood that thisprocedurezis applicable whether ornotacoupler oi! the enclosing type, such as that" of my Patent No. 228?,827,

issued June- 30, 1942, isused; when the coupler is used, the score;producing means may be spaced t beyond. the: outermostends oi "the ;coupler r e n I It is an object of thisdnvention to provide an improvedsrnethod an d means for finishing the ends of pipesections afterthey have beengiven a thick initially plastic coating of material, such as-a corrosion resistant material utilizing minous' or thermoplastic binder.

Anothertobject is to, provide a method and a means which is applicableto a coating process in which the coupled sections of pipe are continuouslypassed out of the coating processwith a longitudinal or helicalmotionn v I: J H Another object is to provide scoring means which may be operated either manually orautomatically and which are adapted to beaccurately located with respect to the coupledabuttin'gends of the successive pipe sections.

Another-object -is to pr vide a method andapparatus for producing spaced circumferential indentations orQscore lines 'on each side of the abutting ends o f continuously coated pipe so that the coating may be removed between the score lines and the ends ofthe pipefsections-withoutdisturbing the bond between-the mainrbodycof the oating and the pipe section. a

Another object is to provide afme ans for viding circumierential scores on pipe which-has I an axial component of motion and whichwill the main body, without damage to the latter. 7

The invention also includes 7 the provision of means which are adapted to be spaced at-a ,sub-- stantially equal distance on each side-of. the abutting ends of sections of pipe which are coupled together and coated with a thick layer of initially plastic material, said means being adapted to be pressed into the coating to score the latter substantially circumferentially. Thereafter when the coupling means,- if any are provided, are removed or if the coating is chipped or broken for a short distance back from the extreme .end of the pipe, the indentation or circumferential score line provided by the procedure just Outlined be carried alonglwith;the Epipe by said motion component:

These and oth ergobiects. and advantages will befurther apparent from thefollowing descri'p-r tion of the method and f rom the attached drawings which form apart of this specification. ahd illustrate a preferredarrangemeht together .with several alternativelembodiments of meansfor practicing this: invention..

Inthedrawings, -Figure 1 is a, longitudinal diagrammatic sectionalview of theabutting ends of two sections of pipe. which have been coated, showing spaced scoring means pressed into the coating to form circumferential indentations on each side of the abuttingends; 3'11: 1 Figure 2 is aperspective view of-one. means for supportingand actuating the spaced indenting e n of ie 1. i I l Figure 3 is a tranverse sectional view of the actuating mechanism of the apparatus of Figure 7 2 taken on a plane transverse to the pipe axis and to the right of the supporting frame.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative form of support and automatic or power actuating means for the indenting members.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of' a hinged and manually operated frame for the indenting members.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus.

nated 23. Ring 2I is desirably provided with a of Figure 5 without a mechanical guide and support means therefor.

Referring to the drawings, particularly toFigure 1, reference numerals IO'gnd ,I-lf designate two sections of pipe which have-beencoatedwitha thick layer of initially plastic material l2. In this example, the ends of the pipes have been coupled and aligned by means of coupling sec-'- tion I3, which surrounds pipe III for a short distance and is ';'p rovide d'witha central axial projection II; adapted tobe received in' acorres'pondl'ng opening I5 6! the cooperating" couplng pipe due to their engagement with the coating I2.

Referring to Figure 2, reference numerals I0 and II designate abutting pipe sections which have been covered with coating material I2 and which are axially aligned with the concave faces II! of the spaced groups of blades I1 and I8. In

this drawing, 'blades I1 and I8 are pivotally mounted on spaced rings. and 2I respectively,

the latter being joined by a plurality of cross- .members 22 to form a frame generally desighandle 21 to act as a reaction point for a movable operatinghandle 25. Handle 25 is linked by rods 26 and belle-ranks 21 to blades I8 so that the latter may be simultaneously swung inwardly and pipe, emerges longit-udinallyor hellca-lly from a coating mechanisrn 'by marking the pipe at 'a predetermined distance from the abutting ends and noting when 'thatmark passes a stationary pointer positioned at a measured distance upstream from the coating machine. The mark on the pipe, being upstream from the abutting ends, can be watched byth'e operator of the scoring means to time his' scoring action to straddle the coveredcpupling,'asshown in Figure 1. In order toyimpress the substantially circumferentiallnderitatlon in the coating I2 on the pipe sections Ill and "I I, means, such as two spaced groups pfblades- I I, and I8: having concave faces I9, are s-suitably supported'so as to be movable at substantiall'y right angles to the axis of pipe sections Illand II. Blades'l'l and I8 are adaptedlto be advanced toward the pipe and to penetrate at leas'tpai'tially through coating I2 and then-be retracted so as to leave substantially circumferential indentations in the coating. When the coupup eeuons l3 and I6 are used as inFig'ure 1-, blades I1 and I 8 are desirably spaced slightlybeyond the outermost ends of the coupling means. This will be found to facilitate the removal of the couplings after the abutting ends of pipe sections I II and II are separated, without damage to. the ma n body of the coating 12. This may take place either while the coating I2 is in itsinlti'al plastic condition or after the'coating has become hardened. Obvi ously, the presncebr absence of coupling sections I3 and I6 will not affect the operation of blades I1 and l8and it is posslbleto use such blades with an internal type of coupling such as has been employed-in the prior art, for "example that of my v 1='atent No. 2,077,769, which issued h rilzojiaav.

In case that blades "and I8 ar used while pipe sections I0 and I I are moving longitudie fnally, it is desirable to prov'ldein'cans "for supporting blades I1 and I8, said r'r'ie'ar'i's being arranged so that the blades will be carried along with the outwfardly simultaneously with blades I8 to form the-spacedindentations desired in coating I2.

:As'stated above pi'pe'sections" I0 and II are 'usually; longitudinally advanced through and out of a coating mechanism which may be that illustrated in my copending-patent application, Serial No. 222,207, filed July 30, 1938, and'issued June 30, 1942, as Patent No. 2,287,825. In order to avoid'scraping coating I2 in a direction longitudinally of" the pipe sectionswhile blades I1 and Ilen'gage the coatingto form an indentation thereinfit is desirable to support frame 22 so that it maymove in a plane parallel to the axis of pipe sections I 0 and! I.-" In this example such support 'is furnished by 'anoverhead rail 3| adapted to receive pulleys 32 connected to frame 23'byresllient means such as springs 33. Assuming pipe-sections I0 and I I to be moving from left to-right; -frarne' 23 will first be moved to the left end-of rail 3I,- which bears a predetermined relationship to the stationary pointer mentioned above; before-blades I1 and I8 are engaged so thatth'e 'e1 1tire frame can travel with the pipe sections during-theshort interval of time the blades "actually engagecoating I2.- If the pipe sections arehelically advanced, the rotation component of their motion will cause blades I1 and I8 to rot'atelwlth respctto the coating I2, which will not lnterfre with their'action but may facilitate it. In'this exam ie, rotation of blades l1 and I8 and nameza may be prevented by the operators graspon handles 24 and 25. I V V Figure 3 illustrates in more detail the arrangement of blades I8, connected by bell cranks 21, both of which are pivoted at 28 in frame 2| (Figure 2);

An alternative form of means for carrying out this invention is shown in Figure 4, in which the spaced scoring means constitute opposed U- shaped'sheet-metal members 34 and 35 which are provided-with semi-circular sharpened notches 36 at their outer ends notches 36 conforming substantially to the periphery of the pipe sections which are to' be trimmed. Members 34 and 35 may be mounted on fiuid-actuated jacks 31 supportedon a car 38 having wheels 39 adapted to move-longitudinally on track 10 in a plane parallel to the axis of pipe I A flexible hose II controlled by-valve '4 Ms adapted to conduct a suitable pressure fluid,-'su ch as compressed air, to operate Jacks and iltojclose members 34 and 35 about that, come .withinjlthepscope. of the appended embers-which are used of heating the blades to *fo'rmthe' spaced indentation's to prevent adherence of the coating material thereto. In this example, a flexible hose 43 provided with valve 44 may be used to supply gas or other fuel to spaced burners 45 on car 38, the flames from burners 45 serving to heat the outer ends of U-shaped members 34 and 35. As explained above for the operation of the arrangement of Figure 2, the engagement of members 34and 35 with the coating ll of an axially moving pipe III will cause car 38 to move along with the pipe until the notches 36 have formed the spaced indentations desired in V coating l2.

Where small diameter pipes are coated, a much more simple arrangement may be made as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 shows an overhead rail 3| on which are placed pulleys 32 and springs 33, the latter supporting a hinged frame 46, the axis of the hinge being substantially parallel to rail 3| and the axis of pipe sections l and II. At the outer ends of the two parts of frame 46 are concave members 41 whose faces are curved to conform to the pipe periphery and which are provided with handles 48. Desirably, but not necessarily, the two parts of frame 46 may be normally urged to an open position by spring 49. In operation, handles 48 are grasped and the two parts of frame 46 are pressed together manually, thus impressing the spaced indentations in coating I2 on abutting pipe sections l0 and 7 Figure 6 illustrates an arrangement for small diameter pipe, similar to that of Figure 5, in which the frame 45 is not specifically supported mechanically by means such as rail 3| and'pulleys 32, but is simply picked up by the operator and closed about the coating 12 on pipe sections In and H to form the indentations at each side of the abutting ends. Desirably, means, such as electrical heating elements 50, may be provided to heat the concave members 4'! where such is necessary, with suitable flexible conductors 5| leading to an electrical power source to supply current for elements 50.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that an improved method and means for trimming or finishing the coating on abutting ends of continuously coated pipe sections have been illustrated and described to an extent which will enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. The latter is believed to reside in the steps of scoring or indenting an initially plastic coating at a predetermined distance from the end faces of abutting pipe sections to form'indentations extending substantially around the circumclaims are embraced thereby. 1'- :.I;claim:z-j-;' v i, w

device forwcircumferentially .scoririgqa thick-initially plastic coating on each siderxof the abutting ends of successive pipesections, comprising a firsti'group of: coplanarsiblades having.

concave cutting faces conforming substantially to the pipe periphery, a second groupof blades similar to said first group and spaced therefrom along the pipe axis, and means for radially ad-c vancing and retracting said blades toward and from said coated pipe to produce spaced and substantially completely circumferential scores in said coating to facilitate separation and removal of the coating for a short distance from the ends of said sections without damage to the coating intermediate the ends of said sections.

I 2. A device according to claim 1 in which said blades are hinged on an axis parallel to said pipe axis. 7

ference; and subsequently removing that part of the coating between the indentations without disturbing the remainder of the coating on the pipe. A preferred'apparatus for performing this operation generally consists'of opposable concave members constituting spaced scoring means and means for pressing said members into said coating, one on each side of said abutting pipe ends. Obviously, numerous changes and modifications could be made from the specific steps and examples illustrated and described without departing from the invention and all those changes 3. A device according to claim 1 including a support for said blades movable in a 'plane par- I allel to the axis of said pipe.

4. A device according to claim 1 including a' movable frame for supporting said blades and thick initially plastic coating oneach side of the abutting ends of successive longitudinally advancing pipe sections, comprising a frame movably supported on a track parallel to the direction'of motion of said coated pipe sections, and means supported by said frame adapted to be constricted around said coated pipe sections to produce longitudinally spaced and substantially completely circumferential indentations in said coating, to facilitate separation and removal of the coating for a short distance from the abutting ends of said sections.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which said coating indenting means comprises opposed'pairs of blades having concave faces conforming substantially to the pipe periphery.

'7. A device for circumferentially scoring a thick initially plastic coating on each side of the abutting ends of successive longitudinally ad-' vancing pipe sections, comprising a frame movably supported on a'track parallel to the direction of motion of said coated pipe sections, and means supported by said frame adapted to be pressed ends and spaced scoring means secured to said 7 frame, said last-named meansbeing movable in a plane at right angles to the pipe axis to be pressed into said coated pipe sections to produce longitudinally spaced and substantially completely circumferential indentations in said coating to facilitate separation and removal of said,

coating for a short distance from the abutting ends of said sections.

9. A device according to claim 8 with the addiadvancing, pipe.-

abutting tad: of 'suecsalve longitudinall adiaibe' i'ections .comnflsln: opposable conave members oonatibuflnz at least two spaced sbol'i a' means; and means impressin -said membersainto saldvcoatlnz, one on each i of said abutting pipe ends. to form a substantially circumferential indentationtherein. v- V V V R- POSTLEWAITE. 

